Bait and Switch: Neighbors fear proposed wave tank will devolve into “drunken, lust-filled hell!”

"We were misled."

Many years ago I spent a semester at Keble College, part of the famed Oxford University system there in central southern England. While I don’t recall how or why I was accepted, it was a fine time. I felt very natty dawning my black robes to go eat in the dining room. Very hoity-toity studying in the library, going to lectures, sitting in the park reading and rowing crew.

One long weekend I decided to visit Belfast in Northern Ireland. The city was blue-collar and grimy but I liked it very much, especially all that trouble between the Protestant and Catholic populations.

I stayed in a hostel and, after fine bowl of coddle, turned in early. It must have been two in the morning when I was rudely awakened by extremely drunk middle-aged women. They did not sound attractive, smelled worse and were so drunk that I couldn’t even believe it.

All the way drunk.

They stayed up all night, drunkenly chatting, and I didn’t get to sleep another wink.

In other news, “People living near a surfing lake due to open in the autumn say they have been “misled” about the type of events it will host.”

The Wave in Easter Compton near Bristol will boast an education centre, café bar, camping facilities and other short-stay accommodation.

However, residents have complained to the local authority about the intention to serve alcohol at the venue.
A spokesman for The Wave it had been “absolutely honest” about its plans.

One said: “The proposal is completely alien to the original project. The prospect of noisy parties and outdoor music at the multiple leisure venues that currently exist will permeate the area and completely ruin the quiet greenbelt environment. We were misled.”

Another said the licensing application was a “fundamental change” from what was originally proposed and they felt “bitterly disappointed and cheated”.

The Wave chief executive Craig Stoddart said: “It has always been our intention to serve alcohol in our café, as happens in other sporting facilities such as the local golf club.

However, this is very much secondary to the main experience on the site, which is surfing.”

“We are aiming for a café culture on site, where people can enjoy a drink responsibly after their surf, not an alcohol-led culture focused on irresponsible drinking.”

Is it even possible to enjoy a drink responsibly after a surf?

I tried last night and failed.

Which is why this piece is so poor.

Discuss.